Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: juniper junkie on February 13, 2008, 03:15:27 pm

Title: rawhide backed juniper recurve
Post by: juniper junkie on February 13, 2008, 03:15:27 pm
Here is a bow I just finished up. it is a juniper recurve with deer rawhide backing. it is 57" long, 40# @26" 2" wide limbs tapered to 1/2" tips, which are overlayed with buffalo horn. I removed most of the sapwood except for about 1/4" . the stave had several knots and I gouged it with a drawknife which required a patch, so the stave sat in my shop for a couple of years until billy  coaxed me into giving it a try,and I am glad I did, this bow shoots very well. I copied a northern california paint scheme and added a couple of dots and squiggles to give it more character. I finished it off with tung oil and added buckskin handle wrap.

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Title: Re: rawhide backed juniper recurve
Post by: uwe on February 13, 2008, 03:17:28 pm
Great! Its good work on a good piece of wood. Looks as if it will stay with you for a longer time.
Regards Uwe
Title: Re: rawhide backed juniper recurve
Post by: juniper junkie on February 13, 2008, 03:26:34 pm
more pics :)

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Title: Re: rawhide backed juniper recurve
Post by: uwe on February 13, 2008, 03:40:54 pm
mmmhhhhmmmm!
Title: Re: rawhide backed juniper recurve
Post by: DanaM on February 13, 2008, 04:11:09 pm
Looks pretty good sometimes them corner of shame staves are worth a second look.
Any chance of an unbraced side profile picture??
Title: Re: rawhide backed juniper recurve
Post by: jamie on February 13, 2008, 04:12:48 pm
beauty!!!!!!!!!!
Title: Re: rawhide backed juniper recurve
Post by: Hillbilly on February 13, 2008, 05:08:43 pm
Fine looking bow. And artwork. And tipi.  8)
Title: Re: rawhide backed juniper recurve
Post by: Gordon on February 13, 2008, 05:19:39 pm
Everything about that bow turned out very well, the paint job, recurved tips and the tiller. And that tipi is to die for!
Title: Re: rawhide backed juniper recurve
Post by: Rich Saffold on February 13, 2008, 05:56:22 pm
JJ, Thats a sweet bow! I too really like that tepee. Where I live, it would rent for about 800 a month :o :D

Rich-Juniper is among my favorites as well
Title: Re: rawhide backed juniper recurve
Post by: cowboy on February 13, 2008, 06:13:39 pm
Nice bow, and wow artwork :o. That one's pretty all over..
Title: Re: rawhide backed juniper recurve
Post by: Ryano on February 13, 2008, 06:29:32 pm
That came out really nice! I really like the art work. ;D
Title: Re: rawhide backed juniper recurve
Post by: medicinewheel on February 13, 2008, 07:08:31 pm

that sure is a niceone! what paint did you use??

frank
Title: Re: rawhide backed juniper recurve
Post by: Bishop on February 13, 2008, 07:54:33 pm
Great Bow. That Juniper is pretty wood, and the art work is awesome. Good Stuff.
Bishop
Title: Re: rawhide backed juniper recurve
Post by: OldBow on February 13, 2008, 09:04:08 pm
You the Juniper King alright!. We we had decent juniper in Montana. Ours is like balsa wood.
Got your very nice weapon bookmarked for Feb Self Bow of the Month, for sure.
Title: Re: rawhide backed juniper recurve
Post by: Justin Snyder on February 13, 2008, 10:10:04 pm
Impressive....
Title: Re: rawhide backed juniper recurve
Post by: Keenan on February 13, 2008, 10:37:46 pm
 JJ, Again that is one sweet bow.  Guys I had the pleasure of shooting that sweet little bow a few days ago and it is a DREAM OF A BOW . Butter smooth draw, great cast and just seems to shoot where ever you look.  The first group that I shot was an incredibly tight group. Dave made a beaut on that one.
  I wanted to take that one home but I think Dave could probably kick my tail right now so better judgement took over.
  Good luck on the BOM, Should be a great contender,,,,,,,Keenan
Title: Re: rawhide backed juniper recurve
Post by: Gordon on February 13, 2008, 10:50:37 pm
Dave, how did you recurve the tips? Did you use steam, boiling water, or dry heat?
Title: Re: rawhide backed juniper recurve
Post by: Keenan on February 13, 2008, 11:12:08 pm
 Gordon I think Dave boiled those in and most the juniper curves that I've done has been boiling. I wouldn't try dry with Juniper.  Keenan
Title: Re: rawhide backed juniper recurve
Post by: juniper junkie on February 13, 2008, 11:46:29 pm
thanks for the kind words all. I used alcohol based leather dye to do the black, deck stain to do the red, and the rest is acrylic. dana, I will get a side profile pic and a close up of the art work, the squiggles look kinda blurry. I will also take some pics of the rest of the artwork on my tipi. I have it set up to make a ozan in it, and am going to a black powder rondy in a couple of weeks. gordon, I boiled the ends to curve them, it doesnt take long and juniper bends super easy and holds its shape. i do believe that having mostly heartwood really makes a difference with juniper, I have made a few with mostly sapwood and they were dogs, dont waste you time making a elb style bow unless you make it about 2" thick it wont have much poundage to it.
Title: Re: rawhide backed juniper recurve
Post by: Pappy on February 14, 2008, 07:17:30 am
Beautiful bow,very nice job.Tiller looks good and the finish work is great. :)
    Pappy
Title: Re: rawhide backed juniper recurve
Post by: Woodland Roamer on February 14, 2008, 09:25:36 am
That's a great looking bow! Love the handle and the artwork.

Alan
Title: Re: rawhide backed juniper recurve
Post by: TRACY on February 14, 2008, 09:49:32 am
Awesome bow! Really like the man cave
Title: Re: rawhide backed juniper recurve
Post by: George Tsoukalas on February 14, 2008, 10:36:08 am
That is an awesome bow. I love the tiller and the paint scheme. Great job. Jawge
Title: Re: rawhide backed juniper recurve
Post by: snedeker on February 14, 2008, 12:01:00 pm
Terrific, and I like the way you got every inch out of the wood with those economical tips.  Where does Juniper stand in terms of hardness and such.  Is it a particularly short bow wood?

Dave
Title: Re: rawhide backed juniper recurve
Post by: juniper junkie on February 14, 2008, 12:59:10 pm
Terrific, and I like the way you got every inch out of the wood with those economical tips.  Where does Juniper stand in terms of hardness and such.  Is it a particularly short bow wood?

Dave Juniper is a soft wood similar to cedar, but it does have some compression strength in the heartwood, while the white sapwood is more limber and has some tension strength as well. in my experience this wood does best with a wide limbed short bow and the slight recurves really add to the cast. I made one backed with bamboo and it shoots really nice, it is a 66" bow with 1 1/2" limbs.
Title: Re: rawhide backed juniper recurve
Post by: adb on February 14, 2008, 01:37:49 pm
Very, very nicely done!!
Title: Re: rawhide backed juniper recurve
Post by: GregB on February 14, 2008, 03:15:49 pm
Your artistic touch made a nice bow really nice! :)
Title: Re: rawhide backed juniper recurve
Post by: Pat B on February 14, 2008, 04:23:59 pm
Everything about this bow is impressive...and I love your tee pee.    Pat
Title: Re: rawhide backed juniper recurve
Post by: AndrewS on February 14, 2008, 04:47:30 pm
Thats a fine bow- every detail is perfect!
Title: Re: rawhide backed juniper recurve
Post by: D. Tiller on February 14, 2008, 10:45:50 pm
I like it Dave! Is that a Huppa design?
Title: Re: rawhide backed juniper recurve
Post by: M-P on February 15, 2008, 01:07:53 am
Dave,  I'm impressed.   I like the style and the artwork!    Ron
Title: Re: rawhide backed juniper recurve
Post by: tradrick on February 15, 2008, 06:53:44 am
Very nice.Great job.tradrick
Title: Re: rawhide backed juniper recurve
Post by: 330bull on February 15, 2008, 12:01:17 pm
That's a really cool bow.  Excellent details and I love the "knotty" character on the belly.  Great job and thanks for blowing everyone else's chances for Feb BOM.   ;D  You earned this one!
Title: Re: rawhide backed juniper recurve
Post by: deerhunter97370 on February 15, 2008, 12:54:36 pm
Great bow! Maybe all us Oregon boys should put up bows this month and make a run on the rest of the country. Joel
Title: Re: rawhide backed juniper recurve
Post by: juniper junkie on February 15, 2008, 01:03:12 pm
I definitely am not counting on BOM, not with all these talented bowyers out there :D D. Tiller: I do believe it is Hupa, not positive though, I copied it from TBB vol. #1 steve allelys article. here is a pic of the side profile that dana requested, and a close-up of squiggles.

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Title: Re: rawhide backed juniper recurve
Post by: Stickhead on February 15, 2008, 01:04:02 pm
Beauty!  Now I'm inspired to try some steam bending on ERC (our local Juniper).
Title: Re: rawhide backed juniper recurve
Post by: PK on February 16, 2008, 04:55:04 am
Your a good Artist too, Like the Teepee
Title: Re: rawhide backed juniper recurve
Post by: DanaM on February 16, 2008, 10:02:06 am
Thanks for the side profile pic Dave, she really is a beauty
Title: Re: rawhide backed juniper recurve
Post by: Pat B on February 16, 2008, 06:33:19 pm
Great little bow. The braced and unbraced profile look great and the artwork is outstanding.     Pat
Title: Re: rawhide backed juniper recurve
Post by: Keenan on February 29, 2008, 11:48:54 pm
 Gosh Dave just had to take another look at that sweet little bow. That paint job came out awesome and it dosn't look like it taken any set at all.   You did real good on that one Bro.   Good luck on BOM.      Keenan
Title: Re: rawhide backed juniper recurve
Post by: Brevi on March 01, 2008, 01:07:08 am
Cool bow.

What size is that tipi ? Can't decide if it is a 12 or 14' .
Title: Re: rawhide backed juniper recurve
Post by: D. Tiller on March 01, 2008, 05:39:28 pm
Dave, you think if you used sinew one could be made arround 36" in length for a 24" or less draw?  I will have to find some Juniper while at the Buttes to turn into one. These little beuaties are starting to make my mouth water. Plus, I bet they make good brush hunting bows for close in work!

David T